Thursday, February 21, 2013

Blog Tour: Three Sisters and Showstoppers by Helen Smith

Three Sisters:
Showstoppers:  




Three Sisters and Showstoppers are two Emily Castles novellas to whet one's whistle before the release of the full-length novel, Invitation to Die, which should be released October 2013. 

Emily Castles is a twenty-six-year old Londoner who ends up getting mixed up in these mysteries.  Three Sisters, Emily attends a party and ends up witnessing what she deems a murder.  No one believes that someone has died, so on top of proving who did it, she has to prove that it actually happened.
Showstoppers brings in Emily's neighbor, Victoria, who runs a dance studio named Showstoppers.  Victoria has been receiving threatening letters from someone who knows about something from her past.  She lets Emily in on the event and Emily ends up becoming involved when this mystery invades the dance studio.

These are two great short stories to introduce Emily before her big story in Invitation to Die.  I'm not a big mystery fan as I'm one who misses all the red flags so I never get the clues and hints to figure things out.  I rely totally on what the author tells me when he or she tells it to me.  I enjoyed these stories.  And as Eva's Sanctuary says, the stories are unusual.  They have twists and turns I wouldn't imagine.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Book Review: Clouds (Glennbrooke #5) by Robin Jones Gunn





I love Robin Jones Gunn's work, but I had not read any of her Glennbrooke series.  When I saw Clouds available on Blogging for Books I knew I had to take it.  I usually request ebooks when doing reviews because I don't have unlimited space to store books in my house, but this is Robin Jones Gunn, so I requested (and received) a paperback copy.

This is the book that makes me want to read even more RJG.  I've read her Sisterchicks series and a standalone novel, but now, I want to read them all.  I want to read her YA series.  I'm in love with her work.
 
Clouds is Shelly's story.  A flight attendant, she has moved back home with her parents after transferring to their local airport.  Returning home she finds it's not as it used to be.  Her best friend, Jonathan, is no longer next door.  His parents had moved to the Bahamas and Shelly had no idea where Jonathan ended up.

Moving home and getting back together with her sister, Shelly is reminded of her times with Jonathan.  He was her best friend growing up and eventually, her boyfriend.  One important detail she remembers is the last time she saw him.

This is the story of Shelly rediscovering herself, finding out who she really is, and what she really wants to do with her life.  The airlines she is with is going under and her life is heading in a different direction.

A beautiful piece of inspirational romance has Robin Jones Gunn come up with here.  I stayed up late reading this book and only put it down because my eyes would not stay open.  I had to know what was going to happen next on this adventure Shelly was on.  It was beautiful.

For more information on this and other works by Robin Jones Gunn, check out her website and/or her page at WaterbrookMultonomah.

I read this as a review request from Blogging for Books. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions are my own.  I was not compensated for this review in any way.



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Teaser Tuesday



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.  Anyone can playing along!  Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!  You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.


  • "Keep trying?  How long am I supposed to try for?"
    P. 13 Boy, Girl, Wise One by Anthony Coleman

    Monday, February 18, 2013

    Top Ten Tuesday



    Top Ten Favorite Characters in Christian Fiction

    1. Aurora Rose Norquest (The Awakening by Angela Hunt) She suffers from agorophobia.  She does not step outside her apartment building.  Her mother died and now she's all alone.  There's something about her character that really teaches. I can't explain it, but I can feel it.

    2. Olivia "Libby" Marsden (Come Home to Brewster by Roxanne Henke) She is the main character of the whole series.  She's the matriarch of the Marsden family.  She's not perfect and she doesn't try to be.  She suffers the loss of her best friend and goes through a depression which may or may not be related.  She's not a perfect mother, but she's a Christian mother, and she's a good example.

    3. Leah Ebersol (Abram's Daughters by Beverly Lewis) Abram's Daughters was the first series by Beverly Lewis that I read.  It was my first foray into Amish literature.  My liking her has nothing to do with us sharing the same first name.  Beverly Lewis does write strong, independent women. Amish females can't really be independent.  Their rules say they have to be obedient to their fathers and then their husbands.  Leah is pretty independent herself and has this great relationship with her "aunt."

    4. Amelia "Amy" DeVries (Home to Hickory Hollow by Beverly Lewis) Amelia is a musician.  She's a world renowned violinist.  On the side, in secret, she plays fiddle music--country music on the fiddle.  She loves her parents and she loves her music, but she wants more.  She doesn't want to be just a violinist.  She also wants to use her talent for Christ.  She represents a connection between our world and the Amish world and how it can teach us without us becoming Amish.

    5. Danni Banning (Restoration by Terri Blackstock) In the beginning Danni is a brat.  That's probably not even harsh enough.  She doesn't want to be home.  She longs for the busy life she was supposed to have in DC with her fiance.  She learns and she becomes a good Christian woman.  I like what she has become. She's finding God and following God.  She's a great example for her younger siblings and most everyone else in their community.

    6. Mark Green (Restoration by Terri Blackstock) He's got a bad reputation and it's nothing he's done.  His dad owns adult bookstores and with Mark's brothers has done some pretty bad stuff in their neighborhood.  Mark's family so everyone automatically assumes he's part of the trouble as well.  Mark is a friend of Danni's.  Danni gives him the benefit of the doubt.  He needs that.  He shows her.  He shows us, the reader, who he really is.  He is a Christian man.  He loves and cares for others even when they think the worst of him.  He's amazing.  He makes me want to be a better person.

    7. Shelly Graham (Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn)  She wanted to see the world.  It was her dream.  That's why she ran away from her boyfriend.  She thought he wanted to tie her down.  Some years have passed, maybe it's only five, but time has gone on.  Shelly's returns home and she shows that sometimes you can't return home, but you can return and make it home.  She reconnects with her sister.  She reconnects and learns from her past.  Shelly needs that to continue on with her life.  She needs to let go and forgive herself.  Reading her story I feel so passionate for her.

    8. Jonathan Renfield (Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn) He was stung by his best friend and she would not reconnect with him.  What was he to do?  Move on.  He had no choice.  He wrote her a letter.  She didn't write back.  He did move on. But, did he?  Mind and heart?  He thought so.  But, was he correct?  

    So, I could only come up with eight!  That's all right.

    Thursday, February 14, 2013

    The Icecutter's Daughter (Land of Shining Water #1) by Tracie Peterson




    Set during the harsh times of a Minnesota winter in 1895, the reader is taken on the journey of a young man moving to a new home to help his ailing uncle with his furniture business.  Unknowingly, he brings along the baggage of a broken engagement.

    Merril Krause is the icecutter's daughter.  Obviously, this is a time before refrigerators and such so in the winter icecutters were used to cut ice as their title suggests.  Her mother had passed away some time ago leaving Merril as the head female of the family taking care of her father and brothers.  It did not leave her with any time to become herself.  Granny and her cousin, Corabeth, feel they need to make a woman out of Merril now that she is an adult.  This isn't one of those Pygmalion transformation stories or anything like that. It's about Merril stepping out from the family business and finding herself.

    I have read a lot of Amish novels and this felt very much in line with those.  None of the characters are Amish and they don't live like them or anything like that.  I think it's because this is a Christian story set in 1895.  The characters are from German and Swedish heritage which I guess could be similar to that of the Amish.  The Amish are considered Pennsylvania Dutch.  My point is if you like Amish novels you'll probably enjoy this one just as well.  It's historical fiction, but I think readers of Amish fiction will enjoy it more.  Or maybe I've not read enough historical Christian fiction set in the USA in the 1800s to understand that this is pure historical.  

    I gave this story a rating of three stars as it was a good story, the characters felt a little flat and the story didn't feel deep enough.  Readers of Christian fiction will enjoy this novel, I do believe.

    This story will be released March 1, 2013.

    I read this as a review request from Netgalley.com using Adobe Digital on my laptop.  All opinions are my own.  I was not compensated for this review in any way.

    Book Review: Night of the Purple Moon (Toucan #1) by Scott Cramer




    What is the purple moon?  Should I tell you now or let you find out by reading the book?

    The purple moon is what astronomers predict is going to happen when the Earth passes through the tail of a comet.  The main character, Abby Leigh, is looking forward to this night.

    Something else comes along with the purple moon--toxic space dust killing off all adults and anyone having gone or going through puberty.

    Abby lives with her father, brother, and young sister on a small island off the coast of Maine.  Her mother planned to come to the island that weekend, I believe.  Now with the purple moon it is just Abby, Jordan, and Toucan.

    There are two female main characters, Abby and Emily.  Abby's the main main character and Emily's a minor main character.  It was very easy for me to get them confused, especially when Emily hung out with Abby's little sister.  They weren't different enough.  The two girls felt like one character split in two.

    The story started out slow as the kids go around figuring out what's wrong and how to deal.  As I got into the story I wanted to know more.  I was interested in this phenomenon and if everyone would survive.  Even though the story telling felt slow it had my curiosity.  Honestly,  I am interested in reading the next book in this series.  I haven't heard of it, but being how this one ended and that it's labeled Toucan #1 I assume there will be another!  There better be as this would be a bad way to end a story.

    I read this as a review request using the Kindle app on my laptop.  All opinions are my own.  I was not compensated for this review in any way.

    A-Z Challenge


    The A-Z challenge is a fun way to find interesting blogs, readers, and ways to post!
    From a-zchallenge.com:
    The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing It Out, the A to Z Challenges to post the letter of the alphabet every day during the month of April, with Sundays off for good behavior.  We will start with A on Monday April 1st.  Whether you go with a theme or freestyle, your post must match the letter of the alphabet for that day.

    The challenge encourages participants to visit at least five participating blogs a day during that month.  It's not a requirement, but since it is a blog hop it is appreciated.  I will be participating in April with a theme of, what else, books! Anything related to books--books, authors, characters, you name it!

    If you would like to participate go here to sign up.

    Monday, February 11, 2013

    Teaser Tuesday



    Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.  Anyone can playing along!  Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!  You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.


  • "Not tonight, maybe next time. This is your welcome to Isahaya, dinner," he said facetiously, "In appreciation of the fact that you didn't come here to teach English."
    Kindle Loc. 1518 Gifted Hands: Sainoo No Aru Te by Kenneth Fenter

    Saturday, February 9, 2013

    Book Review: Surviving Seventh Grade by Glenn K. Currie




    Written in a journalistic style, this is the story of a seventh grade boy in the 1950s.  It follows the boy first introduced to readers as a ten-year-old in A Boy's First Diary.

    It's a quick read about a typical boy's life in the seventh grade.  It shows that kids deal with most of the same stuff in the 1950s that they do today.  No electronics, but there are still bullies, best friends, and annoying girls.

    I don't have much to say about it because there isn't much to the book.  I did enjoy it and I think most would.  But, even as a journal of a seventh grade boy there's not much meat to it.  I guess a boy that age wouldn't keep a very intense journal, but if it's something to be shared with readers I think there needs to be more to it than what's being presented.  Even so, I did like it.

    I read this as a review request using the Kindle app on my laptop.  All opinions are my own.  I was not compensated in any way.